Bondi Beach (Sydney)

BONDI

Bondi beach is perhaps the most famous beach in Australia if not the World. The glowing white sand, the cool breeze from the sea and the glorious whether make it one of the greatest tourist’s attractions in Australia. Everyone will tell you if you are in Sydney you have to go to Bondi Beach, and they are right, Bondi is one of the best experiences a tourist can have.

History:

Bondi Beach is located in the Area of Bondi, which is in Vaucluse, Sydney with an area population of about 10,000. Bondi which is originally an Aboriginal word means “water breaking over rocks or noise of water breaking over rocks”.
Between 1855 and 1877 the area was under private ownership and it was used to allow people to come and use the area as a leisure ground and picnic spot. Eventually the area of Bondi and the beach was taken over by the Government, and was used as a beach resort area. The government introduced a tram service that took people to and from the city centre to the beach, parking area were made for which people had to pay, and construction began on houses within the surrounding area.

Bondi is very popular with tourist and I think the main reason is that it’s very easy and accessible to get to. The first thing that you might note is that the beach isn’t as close to the city centre as one might think. It took us a good 45 minutes bus ride from the city centre to get to the actual beach. However, buses, trains and trams all go towards the beach and thus it’s easy to get to by modes of transport. The bus numbers tourist should look out for are 380 or 382 or 333, the busses will notably say going towards North Bondi, Dover Heights, Watsons Bay or Bondi Beach and thus its relatively easy in that sense. The price of tickets on a bus is calculated by the number of stops you go pass its like most bus services. You can buy a Red Travel pass which is a week’s travel pass setting you back about $38.00 and this gives you full access to all modes of transport.

When you arrive at the beach depending on what time of the year you are their you will notice how packed it can be. During the summer months you can see a whole wave of people sunbathing along the beach and thus I would recommend getting to the beach as early as possible to get the best out of it. The beach itself is used for a number of things such as surfing, sunbathing, walking, and or playing sports such as volleyball and beach football.

If you are a surfing fan, but have never actually learned to surf then this might be a great experience for you. There are a number of surf huts located in or around the beach that offer surfing lessons and surfing equipment such as boards and suits for hire. Prices varies from hut to hut, however be assured to always learn with someone who is experienced even if they charge a little extra.

Walking is another thing that a lot of tourists seem to do on the beach. The coast line is extremnely long and if you are up for some physical activity why not takes a walk from one side of the beach to the other. This is a great experience as it allows you to explore the Bondi area in greater detail, if it’s a hot summer’s day you really do see some great sights.

The Bondi Beach Market:

The local Bondi Market is only minutes away from the beach and it’s a great place to do some shopping for things that you may not find in mainstream shops. These generally include necklaces, beads pictures and so on. Clothes and food can also be bought from the local market, and this is perhaps one of the only places in Sydney were you can do some haggling.

The surrounding beach area has a number of shops and cafes were you can buy food, drinks and snacks. You are allowed to eat on the beach however please note that any littering is strictly forbidden and if you are caught you may be expected to pay a hefty fine. Alternatively you could use one of the thousands of bins they have located around the Bondi Area.
Cafes and food courts offer a wide variety of snacks, I even recall a café offering the traditional full English breakfast with all the trimmings, and this would be needed after a night out on the town. Prices are relatively cheap, and thus you will not be paying top end prices. Its careful to note that any money you bring should be kept with you in a safe and secure place, a big tourists hot spot like the beach can also be an opportunistic place for people to take your belongings, its never happened to me but its worth being cautious.

The beach is a great place to come and visit and surely enough cannot be missed. The beach is completely transformed during the Christmas and New Year period along with Australia Day. Drinking alcohol is prohibited on the beach, however during these public holidays their seems to be a less caution about it, and most police officers tend to turn the other way as longs as you are not causing any trouble. During Australia day, the local music station has loudspeakers around the beach playing the top 40 countdown, and it really gives you a party style environment.

Accommodation:

It’s even possible to find accommodation near Bondi Beach, however if you are travelling its worth looking well in hand before you arrive as places can be pre booked. Prices can be quite high; however this is expected as it’s a popular tourist area with some of the greatest views around. A best place to look for accommodation would be gumtree Australia, which shows all the places available for hire or rent.

Overall a brilliant place to visit, it may seem like a normal beach, but the views, the people and the laid back lifestyle make this a brilliant place to be in. The easy transport links make it easy to get to, and there is plenty to see and do in the surrounding areas. If you are in the area I would recommend checking Bondi Beach out.

Happy Travels!